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County Announces New Superintendent

BERLIN — The Worcester County Board of Education has appointed Dr. Jerry Wilson as Superintendent of Schools, pending certification approval by the Maryland State Department of Education. Wilson will assume the position on July 1.

“I am excited to be given the opportunity to serve as Superintendent in Worcester County, an outstanding school district renowned for high levels of performance,” said Wilson. “My wife Liz and I are looking forward to meeting the educational community and learning about the culture of the district and how the educators have achieved such remarkable successes. … I am eager to work with the school system’s outstanding teachers, administrators, and staff to keep the momentum moving forward. We will continue to keep children first.”

Wilson has served as Superintendent of Colorado’s Poudre School District since 2006. Having also served as Superintendent in Wyoming and Oregon, Wilson has 18 years of experience in this top-leadership position. Born and educated in Silver Spring, Md., Wilson has been an educator for 34 years.

The Board of Education’s superintendent search, facilitated by the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), yielded four finalists in late April, including Stephen Decatur High School Principal Lou Taylor, who was promoted earlier this year to Assistant Superintendent for Administration, and John Gaddis, current Assistant Superintendent of Instruction.

The Board of Education invited stakeholder groups to participate in interview sessions with each finalist.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to express our appreciation to those who took time out of their busy schedules to interview the finalists and provide feedback” said Board President Robert A. Rothermel, Jr., “We had four viable candidates. In the end, the decision rested with the Board of Education and ultimately, our selection was based on what is best for Worcester County students.”

In his capacity as Superintendent of Poudre School District (PSD), PSD has realized increased student achievement, improved graduation rates, and reduced dropout rates. In addition, 92 percent of PSD seniors completed a post-secondary class – such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and/or concurrent enrollment classes, demonstrating increased post-secondary student readiness. With a passion for advancing “green school” initiatives, Wilson also recognizes the importance of technology in the classroom; the student-to-laptop ratio at PSD is 1:1.

Wilson will replace retiring Superintendent Dr. Jon Andes, who has been superintendent of Worcester County schools for 16 years.